System for controlling the operation of wireless multicasting systems to distribute an alarm indication to a dynamically configured coverage area

ABSTRACT

The present Reverse 911 Alarm System implements a central alarm distribution site that is capable of generating an alarm indication to warn individuals of a hazard and propagating the alarm indication to selected individuals via their wireless subscriber devices by the use of wireless multicasting in the existing cellular communication network and/or wireless-based Local Area Networks which are operational in the coverage area of the hazard. The central alarm distribution site dynamically selects the wireless coverage area to encompass the present extent of the hazard and can also provide advanced warning to individuals located in an area that extends beyond the present hazard extent area. The present Reverse 911 Alarm System thereby integrates the operation of the wireless communication network with the 911 and Reverse 911 services to provide efficient and comprehensive distribution of alarm indications to the individuals who are impacted by an emergency situation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is related to a US Application titled “System ForDistributing An Alarm Indication To A Dynamically Configured Set OfAlarm Systems”, and a US Application titled “System For Controlling TheOperation of Both Wireless Multicasting Systems And Alarm Systems ToDistribute An Alarm Indication To A Dynamically Configured CoverageArea”, both filed on the same date as the present application andincorporating the disclosures of each herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a Reverse 911 alarm system that propagates analarm indication throughout an impacted area by transmitting the alarmindication via a wireless network multicast transmission to wirelessdevices which are operable in the impacted area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a problem in the field of alarm systems that there are numeroushazards that can be threatening to the occupants of a dwelling or apredetermined locale, and where such a hazard encompasses a widespreadarea, existing alarm systems are inadequate to properly warn individualslocated in the impacted area. The automatic propagation of an alarmindication throughout an area that extends beyond the extent of an alarmsystem is beyond the capability of existing alarm systems. Furthermore,existing 911 and Reverse 911 systems are not integrally coordinated withthe operation of alarm systems and thereby fail to benefit from thealarm indications produced by these systems.

In alarm systems that make use of autonomous alarm devices, the hazarddetection sensors incorporated into these devices detect the immediatepresence of a predetermined level, concentration, or intensity of thehazard. These autonomous alarm devices are located in fixed locationsand respond to the incorporated hazard sensor to automatically generatean alarm indication, such as an audible alarm, to identify the presenceof a hazard proximate to the alarm device. However, the audible alarmonly alerts individuals who are presently located proximate to theactive autonomous alarm device.

Present integrated home protection systems are pre-wired into a dwellingand typically function both as a burglar alarm system and a hazarddetection system. These integrated home protection systems use acentralized architecture comprising a master-slave topology to manage aplurality of remotely located sensors and a plurality of remotelylocated alarm devices that are located in a dwelling. The master-slavetopology has all of the remote (slave) sensors reporting alarm events tothe central control unit which then responds by audibly alarming ALLremote alarm devices in the system and, if so designed, sending an alarmindication to an external agency, such as the local fire department.However, the integrated home protection systems are unable to respond tocommunications that are received from a Public Safety Answering Point(PSAP).

Therefore, existing alarm systems fail to propagate an alarm indicationbeyond the bounds of their installation, except for an automaticnotification transmitted to the police/fire department that serves thelocale in which the alarm system is installed. These alarm systems alsofail to provide the ability to receive communications from externalsources in response to an alarm event, or provide output devices thatare networked to cover a spatial area that may not be coextensive withthe spatial area covered by the alarm devices. Thus, there is a need foran emergency event alarm system that coordinates the operation ofmultiple alarm systems and that provides an audible indication that areport of the hazard has been received at a Public Safety AnsweringPoint (PSAP) or private security agency or emergency responderorganization that serves the dwelling, and that can provide an output ina spatial area that may not be coextensive with the spatial area coveredby the alarm devices.

In addition, existing Reverse 911 systems respond to the presence of anemergency situation by initiating an individual one-to-one telephonecall, email or SMS message to every telephone number in the list ofcontacts. This process is time consuming since the number of calls canbe significant, and also fails to include wireless telephones in theReverse 911 call list. In addition, in a very large metropolitan area,such as Los Angeles during an earthquake, the sheer volume of one-to-oneconnections, data or voice, can overload the telecommunicationsinfrastructure. Therefore, existing Reverse 911 systems are slow, proneto miss numbers due to a failure to answer, and do not cover all partiesin the impacted area. There is a need for a Reverse 911 system that ismore efficient and also covers individuals who use wireless telephones,whether as part of a cellular system or a local WiFi, WiMax Local AreaNetwork.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present System for Controlling the Operation of WirelessMulticasting Systems to Distribute an Alarm Indication to a DynamicallyConfigured Coverage Area (termed “Reverse 911 Alarm System” herein)solves the above-described problems by implementing a central alarmdistribution site that is capable of generating an alarm indication towarn individuals of a hazard and propagating the alarm indication toselected individuals via their wireless subscriber devices by the use ofwireless multicasting in the wireless communication network that servesthe service area of the central alarm distribution site. The wirelesscommunication network includes the existing cellular communicationnetwork and/or wireless-based Local Area Networks (such as proprietarybusiness-based wireless Local Area Networks) which are operational inthe coverage area of the hazard. The central alarm distribution sitedynamically selects the wireless coverage area to encompass the presentextent of the hazard and can also provide advanced warning toindividuals located in an area that extends beyond the present hazardextent area. The present Reverse 911 Alarm System thereby integrates theoperation of the wireless communication network with the 911 and Reverse911 services to provide efficient and comprehensive distribution ofalarm indications to the individuals who are impacted by an emergencysituation.

Alarm systems typically include output devices, each of which generateshuman sensible alarm indications in response to the receipt of an alarmindication. The output devices can be integrated into the alarm devicesor can consist of separate elements. The connecting medium among theoutput devices could be acoustic, electrically wired, Radio Frequency(RF), optical, power line carrier, or a combination of multipletechnologies to enable redundancy and simple installation. The Reverse911 Alarm System makes use of these output devices by accessing theirassociated alarm system to propagate an alarm indication to individualswho are located within the coverage area of the associated alarm system.

By making use of the alarm generation capability of existing installedalarm systems and the alarm indication distribution capability of thewireless communication network, the Reverse 911 Alarm System canpropagate alarm indications to targeted areas and also provideoverlapping coverage using different alarm delivery modes for thedifferent wireless networks that are activated. The coverage area of thealarm distribution can be dynamically altered in response to thechanging area impacted by the hazard, and different alarm indicationscan be provided to different coverage areas or classes of individuals tocustomize the warning and provide accurate updated information toindividuals located in the area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, the configuration of atypical installation of the present Reverse 911 Alarm System;

FIG. 2 illustrates, in block diagram form, the architecture of a typicalcombined alarm/output device;

FIG. 3 illustrates, in flow diagram form, the Alarm System's response toa given alarm condition;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate, in flow diagram form, the operation of thepresent Reverse 911 Alarm System, in generating alarm indications inresponse to the detection of a hazard condition, and wherein fixed andmobile emergency responders can communicate directly to the alarmingsite;

FIG. 6 illustrates, in block diagram form, a typical existing E911network for wire-line applications; and

FIG. 7 illustrates, in block diagram form, a typical existing E911network for wireless applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous hazards that can be threatening to the occupants of adwelling (to include but not limited to a factory, office, commercialestablishment, public building, or school campus) or those present in apredetermined locale. Autonomous alarm devices are available to detectthe presence of a predetermined level, concentration, or intensity ofthe hazard and automatically generate an alarm indication, such as aloud sound, to alert the individuals in the vicinity of the alarm deviceof the presence of the hazard.

Alarm systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,301,455 and aUS Application titled “Self-Configuring Emergency Event Alarm SystemWith Autonomous Output Devices” filed on the same date as the presentapplication, typically include multiple alarm devices and the associatedoutput devices, each of which generates human sensible alarm indicationsin response to the receipt of an alarm indication. The output devicescan be integrated into the alarm devices or can consist of separateelements. The connecting medium among the alarm devices and outputdevices is a communication medium and could be acoustic, electricallywired, Radio Frequency (RF), optical, power line carrier, or acombination of multiple technologies to enable redundancy and simpleinstallation.

By making use of the alarm generation ability of existing installedalarm systems and the alarm indication distribution capability of thewireless communication network, the present Reverse 911 Alarm System canpropagate alarm indications to targeted areas and also provideoverlapping coverage using different alarm delivery modes. The coveragearea of the alarm distribution can be dynamically altered in response tothe changing area impacted by the hazard, and different alarmindications can be provided to different coverage areas or classes ofindividuals to customize the warning and provide accurate updatedinformation to individuals located in the area.

Public Safety Answering Point

In order to understand the operation of the present Reverse 911 System,the operation of existing 911 emergency services is described herein.Emergency Services access is an important feature of existingtelecommunications networks, with the network being capable of not onlyidentifying the subscriber, but also their present location tofacilitate dispatching emergency services personnel. A universal code,such as 911 in North America and 112 in Europe, is used to accessemergency dispatch personnel at predefined sites termed “Public SafetyAccess Points (PSAPs)”. Enhanced 911 (E911) is an extension of thisbasic service and is defined by the transmission of callback number andgeographical location information to the emergency dispatch personnel.The term “geographical location information” is used to refer toinformation about the physical position of a subscriber in the physicalenvironment as opposed to a communications network address. For example,it comprises a civic address, postal address, street address, latitudeand longitude information or geodetic location information. E911 may beimplemented for landline and/or wireless devices. Voice-over-InternetProtocol (VoIP) is a technology that emulates a phone call, but insteadof using a circuit based system such as the telephone network, itutilizes packetized data transmission techniques most notablyimplemented in the Internet.

In order to promptly dispatch emergency service vehicles or otherassistance to the correct destination, accurate information about thegeographical location of the subscriber is needed. In conventionalwire-line switched telephone networks, it is possible to provide thesubscriber location information relatively easily because telephonehandsets are fixed in particular locations. Static database entries canthen be made in a database which is accessible to the emergency servicespersonnel at the Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs) to associate asubscriber's home address and telephone number.

Existing Wire-Line, Wireless, and VoIP Emergency Services Systems

The existing emergency services network is made up of Selective Routers(SR), Automatic Location Identification (ALI) databases (both local andnational), and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) with their variousCentralized Automatic Message Accounting (CAMA), trunk connections andvarious data connections for querying the Automatic LocationIdentification (ALI) databases. Beyond these network elements are thepublic safety organizations themselves (Police, Fire, and Ambulance) andthe communications networks that support them.

FIG. 6 illustrates, in block diagram form, a typical existing E911network for wire-line applications. The location of the subscriber, whois calling the emergency services network, is used for two key purposes.The first is routing of the emergency services call to the correctPublic Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 604, and the second is in thedelivery of the geographical location information of the subscriber, fordisplay to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operator 607 inorder that emergency response units can be dispatched to the correctlocation. In a wire-line voice network, calling line address informationis stored in a database known as an Automatic Location Identification(ALI) database 605. This information in the Automatic LocationIdentification (ALI) database 605 is updated and verified by synchingthe Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database 605 with the MasterStreet Address Guide (MSAG) database 606, which is a system used by thelocal exchange carrier to associate a telephone number from a subscriberto an Emergency Service Zone (ESZ) which identifies the emergencyservices agency assigned to respond to an emergency in that locale.

In wire-line voice networks 600, there is an association between thesubscriber's phone number (Calling Line Identifier (CLID)), whichidentifies the telephone line 611 which serves the subscriber'stelephone station set 601, and that subscriber's geographical location.This geographical location is generally the home address of thesubscriber, which information is maintained by their Local ExchangeCarrier (LEC) in the Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database605. In this case, the Calling Line Identifier (CLID) becomes a readyreference and the incoming line to the local exchange switch 602 and thelocal exchange switch 602 provides an explicit indication of theappropriate routing of 911 calls. This permits the local exchange switch602 to work from a static configuration in terms of selecting theoutgoing trunk 613 on which to place the call so it is directed to thecorrect Selective Router 603. The Selective Router 603, in turn, can usethe same static association and Calling Line Identifier (CLID)information stored in the Automatic Location Identification (ALI) 605 toensure that the call is routed to the correct serving Public SafetyAnswering Point (PSAP) 604 for the subscriber's address.

On receipt of an emergency call from the subscriber, armed with thesubscriber's Calling Line Identifier (CLID), the Public Safety AnsweringPoint (PSAP) 604 is able to query this database via link 612 andreceive, in return, the street address (also known as a civic address)information associated with the Calling Line Identifier (CLID). Thephysical interface over which the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)604 makes this query is variable. It may be an IP based interface overdial-up or broadband or it may be made over an X.25 packet interface.Similarly, the Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database 605 mayphysically be co-located within the Local Exchange Carrier 602 andSelective Router 603, or it may be a remote national Automatic LocationIdentification (ALI) (not shown) which handles the request directly orin tandem from the local Automatic Location Identification (ALI) 605.The operator at the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 604 gathersinformation from the calling party and uses this information, along withthe automatically delivered information to deliver an emergency servicerequest to the appropriate emergency services organization.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in block diagram form, a typical existing E911network for wireless applications. In wireless systems, the associationbetween the subscriber's present geographical location and their CallingLine Identifier (CLID) is lost. Being mobile, by definition, a wirelesssubscriber can be anywhere within the wireless network's area ofcoverage. Similarly, there is no physical wire-line corresponding to thewireless device 701 which is the source of the call from which toassociate a route to the correct destination. In wireless networks,however, there is a physical serving cell 702 from which the call isinitiated. The geographic granularity of these cell locations isgenerally sufficiently fine for the Mobile Switching Center 703 todetermine the correct trunk route to a corresponding Selective Router704. In many cases, this also provides sufficient accuracy for theSelective Router 704 to determine with which Public Safety AnsweringPoint (PSAP) 705 the subscriber should be connected.

It is an internal procedure for the Mobile Switching Center 703 toassociate an outgoing trunk route with a serving cell 702. However, somesignaling is required for a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 703 to passthis same information along to the Selective Router 704 so that it candetermine the correct Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 705. Therouting information is passed to the Selective Router 704 in the ISUP(ISDN user part) call setup signaling in one or other newly definedparameters called the Emergency Services Routing Digits (ESRD) or theEmergency Services Routing Key (ESRK). The Selective Router 704 examinesthe value of the ESRD/ESRK parameter in the call setup signaling androutes the call to the correct Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 705based on this value.

Note that there are circumstances where cell boundaries can span theboundaries of Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) catchment areas. Inthis case, the Emergency Services Routing Digits or Emergency ServicesRouting Key determined from a serving cell 702 may not provide areliable indication of a route to the correct Public Safety AnsweringPoint (PSAP) 705. Both ANSI-41 (generally TDMA, and CDMA) and 3GPP(generally GSM, EDGE, and UMTS) wireless networks have identifiedfunctionality to address this. In ANSI-41 networks a functional elementknown as a Coordinate Routing Database (CRDB) 708 is defined. Thewireless network can consult the Coordinate Routing Database (CRDB) 708and, based on the geographical location of the subscriber (determined bydifferent positioning technologies such as forward link trilateration,pilot strength measurements, time of arrival measurements, etc.); itreturns an appropriate value of the routing parameter. As long as thegeographical location is an improvement in accuracy over the celllocation, this mitigates the problem of misrouted calls. Similarly, 3GPPnetworks allow the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 703 to request arefined routing key value from the Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC)based on the geographical location of the subscriber. This location datais available to the Service Control Point 707 which is a standardcomponent of an Intelligent Networks telephone system used to controlthe service.

Reverse 911 Alarm System Architecture

FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, the configuration of atypical installation of the present Reverse 911 Alarm System 100,consisting of an Emergency Services site 100, which is connected viacommunication medium 110 to a plurality of Alarm Systems 111-11N as wellas to a plurality of Mobile Switching Centers 121 and 122, which arepart of the wireless communication network that serves the area aroundthe Emergency Services site 100 and privately owned wireless Local AreaNetworks 141 and 142. Each Mobile Switching Center 121 and 122 includesone or more cell sites, A1, B1, and B2, respectively, which operates onthe basis of dividing space into a plurality of volumetric sections orcells, and managing communications between wireless subscriber devices131-134 located in the cells and the associated radio frequencytransmitter-receiver pairs located at the cell site A1, B1, and B2 foreach of these cells. The coverage area of each cell is shown in part(for simplicity) on FIG. 1 as the line AIR being the extent of the cellgenerated by cell site A1 and B2R being the extent of the cell generatedby cell site B2. The full extent of these cells and the cell associatedwith cell site B1 are not shown to simplify the illustration of FIG. 1.In addition, each wireless Local Area Network 141 and 142 (such asbusiness LAN systems) serves a plurality of wireless communicationdevices 151-154.

Each Alarm System 111-11N includes a plurality of Output Devices OD1-1to OD1-4, OD2-1 to OD2-5, ODN-1 to ODN-3 respectively, each of whichfunctions to generate one or more alarm indications comprising: anaudible output of predetermined volume, duration, and pattern, a visualindication, tactile output (for the visually/audibly impaired), and/orexternal communication to an outside location. The Alarm Systems 111-11Neach also include one or more Alarm Devices which function to detect theimmediate presence of a hazard, which can be one or more of: fire, heat,carbon monoxide gas, natural gas, smoke, propane, hazardous gas,chemical, bio-hazard, nuclear hazard, intrusion, or other suchlife-endangering event. The sensor element contained in the Alarm Devicetypically generates an output electrical or optical signal (in anexplosive environment) indicative of the status of the monitoredlife-endangering event, either safe or unsafe.

The present Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 can be part of a typical PublicSafety Answering Point as described above, or can be some otherstand-alone site. The Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 includes a controller103 for executing the process steps described below as well as tosupport a plurality of operators 101 and 102 who staff this facility.The controller 103 is connected to a coverage mapping database 106, aswell as an alarm interface 104 and wireless interface 105. The alarminterface 104 functions to support a bidirectional communications linkwith the various Alarm Systems 111-11N via the communication medium 110,which the wireless interface 105 functions to support a bidirectionalcommunications link with the Mobile Switching Centers 121 and 122 andtheir associated cell sites A1, B1, and B2 for initiating multicasttransmissions with wireless subscriber devices 131-134 and with wirelessLocal Area networks 141 and 142 for initiating multicast transmissionswith wireless subscriber devices 151-154 as is described below.

Access Coverage Mapping Database

The access coverage mapping database 106 represents a functionality,operational in the Reverse 911 Alarm System 100, which performs thecoverage area mapping. There are two types of alarm situations: an AlarmSystem originates an alarm which is used by the Reverse 911 Alarm System100 to transmit alarm indication(s) to individuals via multicasttransmissions in the wireless communications network, and thealternative situation where the Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 originatesan alarm and transmits alarm indication(s) to individuals via multicasttransmissions in the wireless communications network. In both of thesesituations, the nature and locus of the alarm condition or HazardousEvent HE are correlated with the coverage area of the plurality of AlarmSystems 111-11N, cell sites A1, B1, and B2, and wireless Local AreaNetworks 141 and 142 as shown on FIG. 1 The identity of individuals whoare associated with the Alarm Systems 111-11N and who are equipped withwireless subscriber devices 131-134, 151-154 can also be stored in theaccess coverage mapping database 106. Thus, the presence of a hazard orthe occurrence of a hazardous event is mapped to a set of data which canbe used by the operators 101 and 102 and the Reverse 911 Alarm System100 to integrate the operation of selected ones of the Alarm Systems111-11N, cell sites A1, B1, and B2, and wireless Local Area networks 141and 142 to present a Reverse 911 alert to individuals in the impactedarea as is described below.

Wireless Network Multicast Transmissions

The present Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 makes use of multicasttransmissions in the wireless communications network to deliver alarmindications to individuals who are located in the area impacted by theemergency event. A multicast constitutes multi-media content that isconcurrently delivered in a single transmission to a plurality ofsubscribers who are equipped with wireless subscriber devices 131-134and 151-154. A feature of multicast is that multiple subscribers share asingle air interface channel, which extends from the radio transmitterof the cell site or the controller of the wireless Local Area Network totheir wireless subscriber device and comprises the forward path thatcarries the multicast, to concurrently receive the multi-media contenton the same channel. An exemplary multicast technology is described indetail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,498 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,115 forexample, and can be used to implement the multicast communicationsbetween wireless subscriber devices and the radio frequencytransmitter-receiver pairs. The term “wireless” as it is used hereinwith respect to the cellular communication network denotes acommunication system which operates on the basis of dividing space intoa plurality of volumetric sections or cells and managing communicationsbetween wireless subscriber devices located in the cells and theassociated radio frequency transmitter-receiver pairs located at thecell site for each of these cells. The term multicast channel representsa communication channel that carries multi-media content (multicast)simultaneously to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices via aforward path and can receive signals from this plurality of wirelesssubscriber devices via a reverse path of the multicast communicationchannel.

The basic functionality of the multicast in the wireless communicationnetwork comprises an information distribution management functionalitythat concurrently propagates information to a plurality of wirelesssubscriber devices. The need for information dissemination isidentified: in response to external events; in response to predeterminedtemporal/spatial stimuli; as a function of subscriber inquiries orrequests; and the like. The wireless communication network, in responseto an identified information dissemination event, identifies a pluralityof cells and/or wireless Local Area Networks in the wirelesscommunication network, as well as available communication channels ineach of these cells to carry the information that is to be transmittedto a plurality of wireless subscriber devices extant in the localesserved by the selected cells and/or wireless Local Area Networks. Thecommunication channels can be dedicated to multicast services or can beselected from the pool of available communication channels. Thesubscribers receive the multicasts on a communication channel in theirwireless subscriber device that carries the multicast. The subscribercan be alerted to the presence of the multicast in many ways or canactivate their wireless subscriber device to retrieve the multicastabsent any alert being transmitted to the wireless subscriber device.The multicast received by the subscriber is not subscriber-unique, inthat the multicast is transmitted to many subscribers, with a pluralityof subscribers concurrently accessing the multicast on the samecommunication channel being a typical mode of operation.

The wireless communication network can dynamically configure a multicastcoverage area by associating each registered wireless subscriber devicewith a subscriber profile and present location. Once the multicastcoverage group is defined, a plurality of cells in the cellularcommunication network is selected to form a multicast coverage areagroup where the spatial extent of a multicast coverage area group can bedynamically established by the presence of wireless subscriber devicesin the coverage area of various ones of the cells. In addition, selectedones of the wireless Local Area Networks can be selected to form a LocalArea Network multicast coverage area group. Since the wireless LocalArea Networks are static in their extent and their served wirelesssubscriber devices are more limited in their range of movement, thecoverage area definition is simple to determine.

New wireless multi-media content delivery architectures in cellularcommunication networks, such as MediaFLO (“Media ForwardLinkOnly”) andDVB-H (“Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld”), function by using abroadcast architecture in the forward path to produce a pseudo-multicastdelivery and concurrently disseminate multi-media content to a pluralityof wireless end user devices on a single air interface channel. In thesearchitectures (also termed “multicast” herein), a unidirectionalmulti-media wireless broadcast network transmits multi-media content toselected authorized wireless end user devices in a time concurrentfashion. For example, cell phones are bi-directional devices but a pureMediaFLO or DVB-H device is only unidirectional broadcast receivers.However, many MediaFLO wireless subscriber devices also have abi-directional cell phone but the two devices, cell phone and MediaFLOreceiver, are not “interconnected” for reverse path transactioncommunication purposes. The reverse path physical and logicalinter-connection with the forward path multi-media content delivery(linking the subscriber initiated transaction to the forward pathinformation) and associated process management is described in PCTApplication No. US07/77409.

Alarm System

The above-noted US Application titled “Self-Configuring Emergency EventAlarm System With Autonomous Output Devices” filed on the same date asthe present application discloses the architecture of an Alarm Systemthat has a network of Alarm Devices as well as a network of OutputDevices. As described in this application, either separate alarm andoutput devices or a combined alarm and output device can be used in theAlarm Network. In order to simplify this description, FIG. 2illustrates, in block diagram form, the architecture of a typicalcombined alarm device and output device OD2-1, which consists of sensorelement(s) 201, processor element 202, and network interface element203, as installed in Alarm System 112. The sensor element 201 functionsto detect the immediate presence of a hazard, which can be one or moreof: fire, heat, carbon monoxide gas, natural gas, smoke, propane,hazardous gas, chemical, bio-hazard, nuclear hazard, intrusion, or othersuch life-endangering event. The sensor element 201 typically generatesan output electrical or optical signal (in an explosive environment)indicative of the status of the monitored life-endangering event, eithersafe or unsafe. The processor element 202 includes the power source usedto power the alarm/output device OD2-1 and a backup (where used), aswell as the program controlled device that activates and executes thelogic of the alarm/output device OD2-1. This logic monitors the outputelectrical signal received from sensor element 201, the presence/absenceof power, and functions to control the network interface element 203based on the state of the sensor element 201, as well as the presence ofother alarm devices 211-214 as described below.

Network interface element 203 consists of a communication device whichfunctions to establish a communication session with one or more otheralarm devices and output devices via a communication medium 231. Thecommunication medium 231 can be any of the known types, including: powerline carrier, wireless (radio frequency), acoustic, ultra-sonic,optical, wired, or the like. The preferred communication medium 231 iswire-line, wireless or a combination of thereof. For example, thenetwork interface element 203, when the alarm/output device OD2-1 isinstalled and initiated, transmits a query over the availablecommunication medium 231 to detect the presence of any other alarmdevices that are connected to the communication medium 210M.

In addition, the alarm device 200 is connected via Network Interface 203and Alarm Device communication medium 231 to PSAP Interface 232. ThePSAP Interface 232 communicates to external network Public/PrivateCommunication Network 110 via Firewall 233. The Public/PrivateCommunication Network 110 can take the form of any type of communicationarchitecture and is not limited in its form. Public/PrivateCommunication Network 101 then connects to Public Safety Answering Point(PSAP) 100. The Public Safety Answering Point 100 serves to establish acommunication connection via a commercially available communicationnetwork 110, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN),Internet, Public Switched Data Network (PDSN), or a private network,with a destination external to the Reverse 911 Alarm System 100. Thisdestination can be a Public Safety Answering Point, Law Enforcement,Fire Department, Ambulance, Utility Companies, Private SecurityAgencies, and the like. A separate external network 205 communicationpathway not involving the PSAP occurs via Alarm Device communicationmedium 110M thru Firewall 234 to External Networks 205.

FIG. 2 also depicts the Output Element 206, which is connected toProcessor Element 207, which further connects to Network InterfaceElement 203. The communication medium 231 serves to interconnect all ofthe Output Devices via wireless, wired, optical or other means. NetworkInterface Element 203 enables external network connections andcommunication medium 231 creates two inter-network paths, the first toexternal networks 205 via Firewall 234 and the second via PSAP Interface232 thru Firewall 233 to Public/Private Communication Network 110 toPSAP 100. The typical communication flow in this case is an “external tointernal” direction where the outside world communicates back to theAlarm/Output Device OD2-1, conveying additional information that istimely for alarm annunciation by the Output Element 206. An examplecould be a bio-hazard event where emergency responders and otherinformation sources convey additional information back to the OutputElement 206. The output element 206 functions to generate one or morealarm indications comprising: an audible output of predetermined volume,duration, and pattern, a visual indication, tactile output (for thevisually/audibly impaired), and/or external communication to an outsidelocation. In addition, the output element 206 can annunciate expertguidance which is received from emergency services personnel at a PublicSafety Answering Point 100. It is anticipated that in most cases theannunciating device (output element 206) is co-resident with the alarmelement 201. However, nothing herein prevents a stand alone annunciatingoutput device which may have receive-only networking capability.

In addition, annunciation can, through external network connectivitymeans, offer expert advice and guidance from emergency responders. Thisexpert advice from an emergency responder could take the form ofguidance on how to perform first aid to a burn victim; or, it could behow to perform CPR on someone who has smoke inhalation and isn'tbreathing. If the alarm event is non-machine generated via theautonomous alarm device sensors, that is the alarm is man-initiated,such as in the case of a poisoning, the emergency responders can providelive guidance on how to treat the poisoning victim, both fromheadquarters as well as from emergency responder vehicles (or viaportable emergency personnel communication devices such as radios). Thisexpert assistance could be outputted in the form of verbal instructions,or it could be displayed on a TV or computer screen, or some otherhelpful manner.

FIG. 3 describes the Output Element's response to a given alarmcondition. In FIG. 3 at step 301, a sensor element 201 detects a hazardcondition and signals, communicates this alarm condition. From step 301,two parallel paths are taken—beginning at steps 302 and 305. At step302, the local Output Network annunciates the alarm via audio, visual orother means. Next at step 303, a check is performed to determine if thealarm condition at 301 has been cleared. If no, the process goes back tostep 302 to continue annunciating the alarm condition. If the alarmcondition is cleared, the annunciation of the alarm condition isterminated or stopped at step 304.

The second parallel path begins at 305 where the Alarm/Output DeviceOD2-1 connects to external network(s) via means already describedherein. Then, the alarm type is analyzed at step 306. This analysiscould make determinations such as sense of urgency, which units shouldrespond, what types of units should respond and so on. At step 307,after the alarm analysis is complete at step 306, a communicationsconnection is made to the appropriate Emergency Services responders; forexample police, fire ambulance and/or other. At 309, the selectedemergency service responders are in direct communication with the localarea where the emergency alarm condition initiated. This communicationcould be data or voice, or it could be mobile or fixed. Step 310 depictsthe responders arriving on scene; at this point, and in general, theresponder communication link to the local alarming site would beterminated. When the alarm condition is cleared, the alarm conditionannunciation would be terminated at step 304. Alternatively, sinceemergency responders are now on scene, they could make the on-site eventmanagement call to terminate the alarm annunciation to enhance responseeffectiveness.

Alarm and Output Event in the Reverse 911 Alarm System

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate, in flow diagram form, the operation of thepresent Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 in response to an alarm indicationreceived from Alarm System 112 and originated in Reverse 911 AlarmSystem, respectively. In the process of FIG. 4, the Alarm System 111generates an alarm indication which is transmitted via the OutputDevices OD1-1 to OD1-4 to the individuals located in the coverage areaof the Alarm System 111 and also forwards the alarm indication via abidirectional communication link through communication medium 110 atstep 401 to the Reverse 911 Alarm System 100. This alarm indication isreceived by alarm interface 104 and forwarded to controller 103.Controller 103 at step 402 interprets the received alarm indication toidentify the Alarm System 111 which originated the alarm indication, aswell as the nature of the hazard that is being reported. This data isforwarded to an available one 101 of the agents 101 and 102 forinterpretation and processing. This data is also used at step 403 bycontroller 103 to access coverage mapping database 106 to correlate thecoverage area of Alarm System 111, with the coverage area AIR of thevarious cell sites A1, and coverage area of various wireless Local Areanetworks 141 and 142, as well as the identity of individuals associatedwith the coverage area of Alarm System 111 and the identity ofindividuals whose wireless subscriber devices are active and locatedwithin (or proximate to) the coverage area of Alarm System 111.

Agent 101, in coordination with the correlation data produced bycontroller 103, forwards a wireless alarm indication via wirelessinterface 105 and communication medium 110, to Mobile Switching Center121 at step 404 for transmission to the identified cell site A1 and/orto wireless Local Area network 141. This alarm indication provides anidentification of the nature of the hazard that initiated the alarm, theidentification and/or location of the Alarm System 111 and includesassociated data (the identity of individuals associated with thecoverage area of Alarm System 111). The cell site A1 and/or wirelessLocal Area Network 141 at step 405 also identifies the individuals whosewireless subscriber devices are active and located within (or proximateto) the coverage area of the Hazard Event HE. The cell site A1 and/orwireless Local Area Network 141 then generate a multicast at step 406 tothese identified individuals to identify the nature of the hazard thatinitiated the alarm, optionally a map to display the extent of theHazard Event HE and the identification and/or location of the AlarmSystem 111. This alarm indication can be in any multi-media format,including voice, data SMS, e-mail, or any other format that issupported.

The agent 101 at step 407 communicates the alarm information to theappropriate emergency response agency or agencies so they can dispatchfirst responders to the location covered by the Alarm System 111. Inaddition, the agent 101 at step 408 can communicate with the individualslocated in the coverage area of the Alarm System 111 via Output DevicesOD1-1 to OD1-4 to offer expert advice and guidance from emergencyresponders. This expert advice from an emergency responder could takethe form of guidance on how to perform first aid to a burn victim; or,it could be how to perform CPR on someone who has smoke inhalation andisn't breathing. If the alarm event is non-machine generated via theautonomous alarm device sensors, that is the alarm is man-initiated,such as in the case of a poisoning, the emergency responders can providelive guidance on how to treat the poisoning victim, both fromheadquarters as well as from emergency responder vehicles (or viaportable emergency personnel communication devices such as radios). Thisexpert assistance could be outputted in the form of verbal instructions,or it could be displayed on a TV or computer screen, or some otherhelpful manner.

In the process of FIG. 5, the Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 originatesthe alarm indication. This process is initiated at step 501 when anagent 101 receives information about the presence of a hazard event,which has a coverage area HE as shown on FIG. 1. This hazard event canbe reported by emergency services personnel, members of the public, etc.and can be a chemical spill, assault on a college campus, or naturalphenomena: tornado, hurricane, flooding, wildfire, etc. Thus, the HazardEvent has a coverage area HE that is typically dynamic and impactsdifferent Alarm Systems and areas over time. At step 502, the agent 101activates controller 103 to access coverage mapping database 106 tocorrelate the coverage area of Hazard Event HE with the coverage areaAIR of the various cell sites A1, as well as the identity of individualsassociated with the coverage area of Hazard Event HE and the identity ofindividuals whose wireless subscriber devices are active and locatedwithin (or proximate to) the coverage area of Hazard Event HE.

Agent 101, in coordination with the correlation data produced bycontroller 103, forwards a wireless alarm indication via wirelessinterface 105 and communication medium 110, to Mobile Switching Center121 at step 503 for transmission to the identified cell site A1 and/orto wireless Local Area network 141. This alarm indication provides anidentification of the nature of the hazard that initiated the alarm, theidentification and/or location of the Hazard Event HE and includesassociated data (the identity of individuals associated with thecoverage area of Hazard Event HE). The cell site A1 and/or wirelessLocal Area Network 141 at step 504 also identifies the individuals whosewireless subscriber devices are active and located within (or proximateto) the coverage area of Hazard Event HE. The cell site A1 and/orwireless Local Area Network 141 then generates a multicast at step 505to these identified individuals to identify the nature of the hazardthat initiated the alarm, and the identification and/or location of theHazard Event HE.

The agent 101 at step 506 communicates the alarm information to theappropriate emergency response agency or agencies so they can dispatchfirst responders to the location covered by the Hazard Event HE. Inaddition, the agent 101 at step 507 can communicate with the firstresponders to offer guidance.

Hierarchical Alerts

The above-described architecture and operation of the Reverse 911 AlarmSystem 100 also supports a multiplicity of related alert messagesdelivered to various identified groups of individuals as well as variouscoverage areas. In particular, there are certain events which are bestmanaged by delivering different information to different groups ofindividuals and/or difference coverage areas. An example is a chemicalspill which creates a Hazardous Event having an extent HE, as shown onFIG. 1. The individuals who are presently located in this identifiedarea should receive a message which indicates the presence, extent andnature of the hazardous event. This entails coverage mapping database106 correlating Alarm Systems 112 and 11N and cell sites A1 and B2and/or wireless Local Area Networks 141 and 142 with the extent of theHazardous Event HE. The Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 generates messagesto be transmitted to Alarm Systems 112 and 11N for broadcast via theirOutput Devices and to Mobile Switching Centers 121 and 122 for broadcastvia a multicast transmitted from cell sites A1 and B2 to the wirelesssubscriber devices 133 and 134 extant in the area of the Hazardous EventHE (as identified by the Mobile Switching Centers 121 and 122) and towireless subscriber devices 151 and 152 extant in wireless Local AreaNetwork 141. The data which defines the presence, extent and nature ofthe Hazardous Event HE are transmitted to Mobile Switching Centers 121and 122 so they can identify, via the GPS data received from thewireless subscriber devices 131-134 operating in the coverage areas ofcell sites A1 and B2, which wireless subscriber devices 133 and 134 arelocated in the area impacted by the Hazardous Event HE. In response tothis data, the Mobile Switching Center 122 activates cell site B1 togenerate a multicast for transmission to the identified wirelesssubscriber devices 133 and 134 to alert these individuals of theHazardous Event HE.

In addition, the Reverse 911 Alarm System 100 can generate another setof messages for transmission to individuals who are outside of, butproximate to, the impacted area of the Hazardous Event HE. This area isdependent on the predicted spread of the Hazardous Event HE and wouldlikely include Alarm System 111 as well as any wireless subscriberdevices (such as 131 and 132) identified by the Mobile Switching Centers121 and 122 as being located within the coverage area of cell sites A1,B1 but outside of the impacted area of the Hazardous Event HE. Thesemessages can be transmitted as noted above. The sequence of messages andcoverage areas of the Reverse 911 alerts can be time varying as theHazardous Event HE impact area changes and/or the nature of the eventchanges in intensity.

Another example of a set of hierarchical message delivery with acoverage overlap that is somewhat orthogonal to the prior example is thecase of a college campus. The campus can be equipped with multiplenetworks of alarm devices and output devices, as well as differentclasses of individuals to whom the alert is transmitted. For example, inthe case of an assault on a female student in a coverage area, such asAlarm System 111, the alarm message is transmitted to all individualslocated in the coverage area of Alarm System 111 via the Output DevicesOD1-1 to OD1-5 operational in Alarm System 111. In addition, a firstmessage warning females of the potential imminent danger, directed toall female individuals (students, staff, faculty, members of the public,etc.), is multicast via the cell site A1. In addition, a complementarymessage noting that the recipients of the message should be alert to anintruder (since they are likely not in imminent danger), directed to allmale individuals (students, staff, faculty, members of the public,etc.), is multicast via the cell site A1. A third message can bemulticast in all coverage areas of the region to all campus police,local police department employees, etc., in the form of an immediatereaction required bulletin. Other messages can be propagated in likemanner to the area surrounding the coverage area of Alarm System 111,whether or not on the campus grounds, warning individuals of the eventthat has occurred. An additional multicast channel can be used tobroadcast “breaking news” to all individuals who have indicated in theirsubscription package that they want to receive such news bulletins.Thus, a plurality of distinct messages, each directed to a separateclass of individuals and/or coverage area, can be generated anddelivered to the individuals who are targeted to receive thisinformation. The coverage areas, as well as the classes of recipients,can change over time in response to changes in the present situationthat caused an alarm to be generated. Thus, Reverse 911 Alarm System 100can make use of a multiplicity of communication systems in a manner toreach individuals previously not within the scope of conventionalReverse 911 systems.

Summary

The present Reverse 911 Alarm System implements a central alarmdistribution site that is capable of generating an alarm indication towarn individuals of a hazard and propagating the alarm indication toselected ones of a plurality of alarm systems that are located in theservice area of the central alarm distribution site to warn individualsof a hazard as well as transmitting the alarm indication to individualsvia their wireless subscriber devices by the use of wirelessmulticasting in the wireless communication network that serves theservice area of the central alarm distribution site.

1. A Reverse 911 Alarm System for transmitting an alarm indication to individuals served by at least one cellular communication network, each of said cellular communication networks serving an associated plurality of cellular communication devices, each of said cellular communication devices being capable of generating a human sensible output to warn individuals who use said cellular communication devices of a hazard condition, comprising: an alarm controller, responsive to receipt of alarm data indicative of the presence of a hazard condition, for generating at least one alarm indication; a hazard coverage area determination means for dynamically defining a coverage area indicative of a geographical extent of the hazard condition, including a list of cell sites that provide cellular service to the coverage area indicative of the geographical extent of the hazard condition; a hazard alarm distribution control means for transmitting the alarm indication to cell site controllers which are associated with the cell sites in the list of cell sites having a communication coverage corresponding to the geographical extent of said hazard condition; cellular communication device identification means, operational in each of the cell site controllers which are associated with the cell sites in the list of cell sites, for identifying all cellular communication devices which are active in the cell site; and a cellular multicast means, operational in the cell site controllers which are associated with the cell sites in the list of cell sites, for concurrently transmitting the alarm indications via a single multicast to a plurality of the identified cellular communication devices to generate human sensible output to warn individuals who use said cellular communication devices of the hazard condition.
 2. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 1, further comprising: a destination specific alarm for generating a plurality of alarm indications, each specific in content to at least one of: mode of transmission, target set of individuals to receive said alarm indication, relationship among target sets of individuals to receive said alarm indication, and coverage area targeted; a hierarchical coverage for distributing said plurality of alarm indications in a time-ordered and coverage area specific manner; and an alarm system control means for transmitting said alarm indications to said selected cellular communication networks to activate said plurality of cellular communication devices.
 3. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 1, further comprising: an alarm indication coverage area determination means for dynamically defining a geographical area for distribution of said alarm indication, wherein said geographical area for distribution of said alarm indication is not coextensive with said geographical extent of said hazard condition.
 4. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 3, further comprising: an alarm system selection means for dynamically selecting at least one of said plurality of cellular communication networks, located in said geographical area for distribution of said at least one alarm indication, for receipt of said at least one alarm indication.
 5. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 4, further comprising: a destination specific alarm means for generating a plurality of alarm indications, each specific in content to at least one of: mode of transmission, target set of individuals to receive said alarm indication, relationship among target sets of individuals to receive said alarm indication, and coverage area targeted; a hierarchical coverage means for distributing said plurality of alarm indications in a time-ordered and coverage area specific manner; and an alarm system control means for transmitting said alarm indications to said selected cellular communication networks to activate said plurality of cellular communication devices.
 6. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 1, further comprising: an operator interface means for enabling a human operator to input alarm data indicative of the presence of a hazard condition; and wherein said alarm controller means is responsive to receipt of said human operator input alarm data indicative of the presence of a hazard condition, for generating at least one alarm indication.
 7. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 1, further comprising: at least one unidirectional forward broadcast path that extends from said cell site to said plurality of cellular communication devices for transmitting said alarm indications to said individuals who are equipped with said cellular communication devices.
 8. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 7, further comprising: a reverse path from said cellular communication devices to said cell site for transmitting feedback data from said cellular communication devices to said Reverse 911 Alarm System.
 9. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 1 wherein said at least one cellular communication network comprises at least one fixed site wireless network of the class of wireless networks which include WiMax and WiFi that serve a plurality of wireless subscriber devices which are extant in a coverage area of said fixed site wireless network, said Reverse 911 Alarm System further comprises: a message control means for transmitting said alarm indication to fixed site wireless network controllers which are associated with said at least one fixed site wireless network to initiate transmission of said alarm indication to said plurality of wireless subscriber devices.
 10. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 9, further comprising: at least one unidirectional forward broadcast path that extends from said fixed site wireless network to said plurality of wireless subscriber devices for transmitting said alarm indications to said individuals who are equipped with said wireless subscriber devices.
 11. The Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 10, further comprising: a reverse path from said wireless subscriber devices to said fixed site wireless network for transmitting feedback data from said wireless subscriber devices to said Reverse 911 Alarm System.
 12. A method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System for transmitting an alarm indication to individuals served by at least one cellular communication network, each of said cellular communication networks serving an associated plurality of cellular communication devices, each of said cellular communication devices being capable of generating a human sensible output to warn individuals who use said cellular communication devices of a hazard condition, comprising: generating, in response to receipt of alarm data indicative of the presence of a hazard condition, at least one alarm indication; dynamically defining a coverage area indicative of a geographical extent of the hazard condition, including a list of cell sites that provide cellular service to the coverage area indicative of the geographical extent of the hazard condition; transmitting the alarm indication to cell site controllers which are associated with the cell sites in the list of cell sites having a communication coverage corresponding to the geographical extent of said hazard condition; identifying, in each of the cell site controllers which are associated with the cell sites in the list of cell sites, all cellular communication devices which are active in the cell site; and concurrently transmitting, from an alarm indication communication apparatus which is operational in the cell site controllers which are associated with the cell sites in the list of cell sites, the alarm indications via a single multicast to a plurality of the identified cellular communication devices to generate human sensible output to warn individuals who use said cellular communication devices of the hazard condition.
 13. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 12, further comprising: generating a plurality of alarm indications, each specific in content to at least one of: mode of transmission, target set of individuals to receive said alarm indication, relationship among target sets of individuals to receive said alarm indication, and coverage area targeted; hierarchically distributing said plurality of alarm indications in a time-ordered and coverage area specific manner; and transmitting said alarm indications to said selected cellular communication networks to activate said plurality of cellular communication devices.
 14. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 12, further comprising: dynamically defining a geographical area for distribution of said alarm indication, wherein said geographical area for distribution of said alarm indication is not coextensive with said geographical extent of said hazard condition.
 15. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 14, further comprising: dynamically selecting at least one of said plurality of cellular communication networks, located in said geographical area for distribution of said at least one alarm indication, for receipt of said at least one alarm indication.
 16. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 15, further comprising: generating a plurality of alarm indications, each specific in content to at least one of: mode of transmission, target set of individuals to receive said alarm indication, relationship among target sets of individuals to receive said alarm indication, and coverage area targeted; hierarchically distributing said plurality of alarm indications in a time-ordered and coverage area specific manner; and transmitting said alarm indications to said selected cellular communication networks to activate said plurality of cellular communication devices.
 17. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 12, further comprising: enabling a human operator to input alarm data indicative of the presence of a hazard condition; and wherein said step of generating is responsive to receipt of said human operator input alarm data indicative of the presence of a hazard condition, for generating at least one alarm indication.
 18. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 12, further comprising: transmitting, over at least one unidirectional forward broadcast path that extends from said cell site to said plurality of cellular communication devices, said alarm indications to said individuals who are equipped with said cellular communication devices.
 19. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 18, further comprising: transmitting, over a reverse path from said cellular communication devices to said cell site, feedback data from said cellular communication devices to said Reverse 911 Alarm System.
 20. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 12 wherein said at least one cellular communication network comprises at least one fixed site wireless network of the class of wireless networks which include WiMax, WiFi, that serve a plurality of wireless subscriber devices which are extant in a coverage area of said fixed site wireless network, said method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System further comprises: transmitting said alarm indication to fixed site wireless network controllers which are associated with said at least one fixed site wireless network to initiate transmission of said alarm indication to said plurality of wireless subscriber devices.
 21. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 20, further comprising: transmitting, over at least one unidirectional forward broadcast path that extends from said fixed site wireless network to said plurality of wireless subscriber devices, said alarm indications to individuals who are equipped with said wireless subscriber devices.
 22. The method of operating a Reverse 911 Alarm System of claim 21, further comprising: transmitting, over a reverse path from said wireless subscriber devices to said fixed site wireless network, feedback data from said wireless subscriber devices to said Reverse 911 Alarm System. 